A Biography of St. Francis of Assisi

The Influence of Pop Culture on Individuality

The phrase “go with the flow” has become extremely common and even overused in our current society. The pop culture of America and the world is the main reason for everyone wanting to look, act, and be the same. The celebrities and other popular people are at the top of the totem pole; they set the ways for all those below them. If one does not follow a certain trend or act a certain way, many times one is treated differently, unkindly even. Outcasts, rebels, and anyone unique are the people that do not “go with the flow” and are many times ridiculed for their actions. Even though this group may be chastised for going against the mainstream, they are the ones who are true to themselves and are able to live a more peaceful life. This is the case of St. Francis of Assisi. His decision to follow Christ and live in poverty led him to become an outcast in society, but because of this he became closer to God. Through St. Francis, we can learn how to become closer to Christ.

A Biography of St. Francis of Assisi

Francis was born in Assisi, Umbria in 1181. Originally named Giovanni after St. John the Baptist, Francis’s name was changed by his father, Pietro Bernardone, to Francesco because Pietro wanted a son who would be a man of business, not a man of God (Blog). This right away shows that Francis was going to grow up in a dysfunctional family where his father was in charge of everything. Regardless of this downside, Francis grew up comfortably with access to money, fine clothes, and many parties. The parties led him to become involved in the wrong crowds who influenced his actions; Francis later in his life stated that he “lived in sin” during this period of his life (Blog). Despite his indulgences, Francis always felt a deeper calling that was at odds with his lifestyle.

Between all of his partying, Francis became a successful businessman just as his father had hoped. But, there was one wish of Francis only he could fulfill: to become a knight. This wish would give him “the glory and prestige he longed for” (Blog). Francis’s second chance in receiving glory was what led him to change the course of his life. On his way to war, Francis had a vision of God in a dream, “God told him he had it all wrong and to return home” (Blog). Upon returning home, Francis started on his search for conversation. He found the answer in the little run-down church of San Damiano. While praying at the foot of the cross he heard Jesus speak to him, “Francis, repair my church” (Blog). This revelation marked a turning point in his life, prompting a profound transformation.

After this message, Francis renounced his father and all their worldly possessions, dressed in rags, conversed with the lepers, begged to get by, and most importantly preached about “returning to God and obedience to the Church” (Blog). As Francis’s preachings became more popular, he started to gain followers who wanted to cleanse their spirit of the material world. A young girl became infatuated with the thought of this simple life of the Order of Friars Minor. She ran away from home and renounced her family and money, just like Francis (Clare1, 69). This brave girl was St. Clare and she became the first woman follower of Francis and the creator of the Order of Poor Ladies. When Clare decided to join the order, she had to take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. During the ceremony, Clare had her luscious hair cut off, her satin gown striped from her body, and her expensive shoes taken from her feet. Through this process, Clare “became like [Francis]. In a ritual that mirrored Francis’s own stripping of himself before the Bishop of Assisi, Clare placed her satin gown into the hands of the brothers and put on a rough woolen habit” (Clare1, 70).

The Principles of Franciscan Life

The emphasis on the characteristics of Franciscan life—poverty, humility, and obedience—are always actively shown in the actions of the members, such as in the ritual Clare was a part of when she joined the Franciscan Order. In the Admonitions, written by St. Francis, these characteristics are explained throughout. Scripture was very important to the Franciscans, so St. Francis backs up his writings with Scripture. This not only helps interpret Scripture in the Franciscan way but also gives insight into the Order itself. St. Bonaventure also uses Scripture in his writing about the life of St. Francis. In this writing, St. Bonaventure is addressing those who are truly humble and lovers of poverty. Through this writing, he wants to teach to venerate God’s superabundant mercy, reject ungodliness and worldly passions, live in conformity with Christ, and desire to attain perfection (hope for heaven) (Bonaventure, 179). Those actions all go back to the main characteristics of poverty, humility, and obedience.

The Significance of Poverty in Franciscan Order

Out of all the characteristics of Franciscans, poverty is emphasized the most. Through the way the friars and nuns live to the literature of the Order, poverty is the key message in all. The goal of St. Francis was to live his life as closely to Christ as possible and he achieved that through extreme poverty. Living by the bare minimum left no room for any temptations that might divert his strive for perfection. Francis was not ashamed of his love for God or by the way he and his friars lived, he embraced it. When he was rebuilding San Damiano, Francis “begged from those among whom he used to show his wealth” (Bonaventure, 196). This is just one small example of Francis’s true devotion to Christ.

Reflections on Modern Implications

Through acts of extreme poverty, St. Francis and his brothers have shown many how to become closer to Christ. Nowadays, poverty would be a much larger sacrifice than it was while Francis was alive; everything in our world revolves around material goods. Poverty now does not only have to be interpreted as “being poor” with material goods, but it can also be interpreted as being poor in spirit: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). By achieving materialistic poverty and spiritual poverty, one can grow closer to Christ just as St. Francis did. This may be a difficult journey and one may be considered an outcast just as St. Francis was. Despite these difficulties, one must ask, “Will I follow in the footsteps of St. Francis to become closer to Christ?”

References

• Bonaventure. The Life of St. Francis. New York: Harper & Row, 1969.
• Clare1. The Order of Poor Ladies. New York: Harper & Row, 1970.
• Blog. "St. Francis of Assisi: A Life of Poverty and Devotion." Retrieved from Online Blog.